The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-04
A BIG "COCK-FlGHT
our THE ROAD LAST NIGHT.
Plttsbursh birds Fitted Against Wheeling
FlIhters-A 1ood Crowd Witnesses tho
Sport mt Fulton Money Changes
Hards-A Noted Fowl Event. ~

The cockpit at Fnl'on, the little auburb
over the hill, on tho line OF the Elm Grove
road, WAS the acene last night Of one Of tho
largest and most spirited mains that have
been seen about hero in q long Tina. The
contcs. was between Pittsburgh and
Wheeling birds for 500 a nido, aud THU
teen pittiugG we've on the programmed The
main WAC not concluded until an early
hour this morning, but Il is believed that
Wheeling Won. The latest reports from
tho pit were to the effect that Wheeling
wau far enough ahead 10 assure a final
victory.
Tho main had been looked for ward to
With much interest by tho sporting frator.
nifty and by many who do not class them.
selves In tho ranks a The regular sports,
but who enjoy " little somelhing Of this
kind occasionally, ever since tho arrange.
monta for tho main were m%ade-sbout
three weeks ego. Tho choicest birds that
could BIO found were selected and carefully
trained and conditioned Tor the
fight. for IL was understood that Pills.
bureh would send down bids with
regulations. Tho word was Qnietly
passed around that the main would bo
fought sure, last night, and the remit was
nn attendance OF about two hundred. A
largg portion OF this crowd went out from
the city; tho other we're from Fulton and
the country nnrroun6ipg. Spscia! trains
we're run OH the Elm Grove road 10 take
the spectators out and bring them back
A few drove out In their own rigs. ID
An admission fec OF lilly Giants yns dc,
mandGd from each one beforo entrance
could be had 10 tho fratns building tina.
has lately been the scene OF 40 many GU
counters between feathered c~onbatonte.
Tine crowdthat perchyd ~itoolton the seato,
ranged a'nphlthoatro.!ike about tho pit,
was Il made up OF men, young and old,
from nearly every walt in life. There were
sports, business men, clerks and mon.about-
town. "A more orderly Gssemb,age Ii would
have been hard 10 find; there was no
loud talking, no qua.re;ing and no drink.
Ing. These things were not allowed, as too
much OF a racket is q bad thing for the
birds. Smoking Was permitted at inter
walls, and those who desired refreshmsuts
could purchase ham aud cheese sand.
wlcheH and birch beer. Seyera! Pltts.
burgheis we're present among them,
the we'll known Pat Curley, own.
or Of The celebrated fighting dog
Jack Napoleon" Nearly every one
had g roll varying in sjzs and value from
ono that %As all good etufrani bulged on.
tue ownera inside vest pocket like q rolling
pin to q flake" in the shape OF G few ones
rolled around q dsceiying core OF worth.
less paper; and everybody Tanted to bet
to O greater or ieas extent. Those who
were posted on the science OF cock. flight.
ing and who could eliza mp q birds fine
points and winning qualities at d glance,
bet fraely. All this IVES done quietly. A
man would in III ordinary tone ennounc
his bet, and ii any one wanted it q nod OF
a wink vas all that was necessary. Say.
eral hundred dollars chaoged hands before
the night was over. Grp@r5s5
ever fought, bled and died in n cockpit,
There were all varieties and cYloxs and il
was no easy matter to pick tho winners.
Wheeling lost the frat fight and money
went up OIL the Pittsburgh birds with
great odds ofIeIicg, but there was q fall
when Wheeling in thia round laid Pitts.
burgh in the dust. The third fight
wa won by Pittsburgh and then her luck
stopped fer tho fourth, fifth, sixth and
seventh we're awarded to Wheeling
Seve.a! times tho sport was quite exciting.
At no timo was it tame and the old.tlmers
ENTHUSIASTICALLY declared that 1t was one
Of tho greatest nights in the history OF
ccck-hghting heresbou!s.